Elvis Presley’s Plane Sold For $260k at Auction

After being abandoned for around 40 years in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, Elvis Presley‘s private jet has recently met its new owner.

On January 8, which would have been the King of Rock and Roll’s 88th birthday, Priscilla Presley, 77, the singer’s ex-wife and the mother of his late daughter Lisa Marie Presley, was present when the plane went up for auction at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Vehicle auction in Florida.

The 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar had a beginning bid of $100K, but the offers gradually increased until the hammer dropped on the winning bid of $260K. The new owner placed their telephone offers but he or she has not been named yet.

Less than a year before Elvis Presley passed away in August 1977, the Lockheed was initially purchased for $840K in December 1976. It was one of several private planes the Love Me Tender singer owned.

The Grammy winner had two aircraft: a bespoke Convair 880 called the “Lisa Marie,” which had the call sign “Hound Dog One,” and a JetStar with the call sign “Hound Dog Two.” Presley’s “passion” when he was still alive includes collecting vehicles and airplanes, according to his ex-wife.

The red and white plane’s outside has been damaged due to its 40 years of exposure to the desert’s heat, and its cockpit is rather worn-out and outdated, yet the interior of the cabin appeared to be nearly new. Red velvet couches and chairs, as well as crimson carpeting on the walls and floor, still beautify the interior.

In addition to that, the onboard entertainment system included a television, RCA VCR player, audio cassette player, and headphone connections with audio controls in every seat. Gold trim was used on other design components such as ashtrays. This nine-seater aircraft features a spacious bathroom and a galley or kitchen area with a beverage dispenser and a microwave according to the auction’s website.